Strongly supported by the ACLU, Facebook has updated its policies that explicitly bans developers from using data for surveillance tools.

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"Today we are adding language to our Facebook and Instagram platform policies to more clearly explain that developers cannot 'use data obtained from us to provide tools that are used for surveillance,'" Rob Sherman, Facebook's deputy chief privacy officer, wrote in a post on the company's privacy page.

Last fall, the ACLU obtained records that Facebook and Instagram provided user date access to Geofeedia, which develops a monitoring product marketed to law enforcement. The reports said the data was used by police to track racially charged protests in Oakland, Calif., and Baltimore.

The ACLU said at the time that while both Instagram and Facebook cut off access after finding out about this, Facebook did not have a "public policy specifically prohibiting developers" from taking user data for surveillance.

The decision was a result of "month's of work" with advocacy organizations including the ACLU of California, Color of Change and the Center for Media Justice.

"We applaud this first step from Facebook and encourage all technology companies to stand on the side of history that supports human rights and dignity," Malkia Cyril, executive director and founder of the Center for Media Justice, said in a statement.